Abstract

CASTIGLIONI, MARIO et al. Respuesta en el corto plazo de algunas propiedades físicas a la introducción de cultivos de cobertura. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2016, vol.34, n.2, pp.263-278. ISSN 1850-2067.

Physical soil degradation can be reduced developing sustainable management strategies. In this sense, the intensification of crop sequence generates more efficient use of environmental resources, increasing soil carbon and improving soil physical properties.The aim of this work was to study in the short term (one year), the incidence of two cover crops with contrasting characteristics (wheat and vetch) and a winter fallow situation, on different soil physical properties, analyzing their relationship with two summer crop yields (corn and soybean). To achieve these objectives, the response of an Argiudoll under no tillage, located in San Antonio de Areco (Pcia.Bs. As.), was evaluated. The water available at different times in the top soil 60 cm was assessed. At summer crop harvest moment, bulk density, penetration resistance, aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity, structural porosity were determined at two depths, as well as the soybean and corn yields. Compared with the control, plots occupied during winter with cover crops did not present less soil water content in the first 60 cm at sowing, flowering and harvesting of summer crops. In the short term and mainly in the surface layer, the cover crops changed most of the soil physical properties evaluated. In some cases different soil responses were generated, according to the cover crop present. Aggregate stability of the top few centimeters of the corn crop soil, was the most sensitive variable to detect changes due to cover crops, while the penetration resistance was less effective.

Keywords : Corn and soybean yields; Aggregate stability; Available water; Winter fallow.

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